“How long are your names? How many words it was taken? Did you bring your daddy’s name or is that Chinese name?”
My name is Grace Meilani Ristiana Limbong, it is a long name though there are many long names is the world. I was born in Serpong, Jakarta in 1990 when the most favourite film “unyil” booming in that time. One part of my name was taken from the girl’s character whose name was Meilan, she was a talkative Chinese girl which live with her Grandpa. My mother loved that film very much and finally she gave me that name as symbol of the month and her favourite film.
My second names are Ristiana based on my mother explanation it was a sweetener for me, she hopes that I will always be her sweet girl in every part on this life. For the last name it is a parent’s name from my father, he was born in batak’s tradition so he have to give his name on me, so my last name was showed that I had Batak’s culture. Actually I have a Baptist name and it has a long story why I had that name. I was on 17 years old when I got some trouble in my life, accidentally I realized that there were some cancer in my body and it made me so depressed. I thought that there no time anymore for me, but my mother and my friends always support me to face it. One year I was facing the big giant in my life and I came as a winner that’s way the priest gave me a name “Grace” because my life is only because God’s grace.
For me my name is describe me as a real person in this life, I always believe that we will be what we faith for. So I believe that my name are precious as me in my mother’s life, even if I have a chance to replace it I will not ever change my name. I love my names very much even tough many people misunderstanding with my name, they guess me a Chinese girl "mei-mei" or maybe they think that my names is too heavy for me. I love my name and I always use it whenever I will go around the world, I believe that someday I will be a great people and it will be my pride to show people what is my name.
